Rhinoceros Bites Pittsburgh Zookeeper’s Thumb

PITTSBURGH (AP) – A rhinoceros has bit the thumb of a Pittsburgh zookeeper who feeds the animal on a daily basis.

The employee of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium is being treated in a local hospital for an injury described by a spokeswoman as a “nip.’’

Zoo spokeswoman Tracy Gray says the woman feeds the rhinoceros every day. She says “it’s just an accidental bite.’’

Marketing director Connie George says the worst that will happen to the zookeeper is that her fingernail may fall off.

George says the rhino is not being identified so it won’t be “disparaged’’ by visitors. George also declined to identify the zookeeper. She says the zookeeper is one of the most experienced at the zoo and has been feeding the rhino for “many, many years.’’